PHOTO: FILE
They said this at a focus group discussion organised on Monday by the Global Human Rights Defence in collaboration with Pakistan Hindu Seva Welfare Trust and Civil Society Support Programme.
Around 50 participants attended, most of whom were lower-caste Hindus. They complained that their issues had perpetually been swept under the carpet since independence. “We are considered second class citizens,” said Kali Das. “Are we born here to become sanitary workers only? Even graduates from our community are given lowly jobs,” he added.
Though the participants said they aren’t satisfied with the current representation in the parliament, they hoped their problems would be addressed soon. Ashok Kumar, another participant said, “Our problems are because of the absence of true leadership in the parliament. Ministers are from the upper class. They don’t raise our genuine concerns.”
The participants said the founder of Pakistan wanted equality for all. “We are in search of Quaid-e-Azam’s Pakistan. The father of the nation said that religion and state are two separate things,” said Sardar Ramesh Singh. “The government must listen to our voice.”
The participants then complained that their children acquire education from public schools as they can’t afford the fee charged by private schools. They said that the government should ensure quality education for minorities. “Our children will find a way for their prosperity if they are given quality education,” said Kumar.
Raju Aasu Pandit said that Hindu children should be given religious education in schools, adding that separate funds should be allotted for healthcare for minority groups. “To whom one turns to when his or her child dies because of a lack of medicine?”
The discussion then turned around to forced conversions, which participants felt was a genuine concern in Sindh. They said that their daughters were unsafe even in Karachi. “Our people don’t raise voices when their daughters are kidnapped, converted and married. We are afraid of consequences,” said Kumar. HRCP’s Abdul Hai complained that people don’t support when the HRCP truly raised their voice. “Parents don’t support us. They seem afraid of sharing details of kidnapping, conversion and other issues.”
Suneel Kumar said, “All Hindus and minority groups face almost same kinds of issues. We lack unity and genuine leadership.”
Published in The Express Tribune, April 2nd, 2013.
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No doubt issues are too much to minorities in Pakistan, although all the blames should not be given to the state. Minorities do not educate their children which is one of the reason that there are lots of issues. Like food and other baisc necessities education is important for a better status in society. Quaid e Azam's Pakistan is not lost; it is existing there between us but unfortunately we are lost. Leave the position of president or prime minister, minorities are senators, is not it much? Minorities in Pakistan are at the top level like that of CEO, Chief Justice of Pakistan (Rana Bhagwan Das), top business men, well known and respective prosecutors, fashion designers, doctors, professors etc.
No doubt issues exist in our society to minorities but these are same to majority. I think we must strive for the better future of our children by educating them and offering them primary religious knowledge which will bring a pure change in society for all. Sanitary workers are often not educated, after primary or matricalation they leave to learn, this is the reason that they bacome unable to educate their offsprings.
It's about time long time ago. If we are resolved to bring every citizen to equal footing we must free them all to contest for any and all positions of public service. We have to fight back at the extremists & intolerant factor among the masses, with any & all measures big or small from Balochistan to Punjab to remove the origins of inequality & injustice, As Fast As We Can. Progress should be measured on daily & hourly basis. As simple as that. We want progress toward better future of our children & grandchildren who will be living in Pakistan and even for those who will carry our name to other places on earth.
@Umar Farooq Khawaja:
I suggest enlightened, tolerant and democratic Pakistanis (if there is such a class!) read the horror stories about the terrible and inhuman treatment of minorities in Pakistan. Minor Hindu girls -- as young as 12 years -- are kidnapped from their parents, forcibly converted into Islam and either married away to men three or four times their age or forced into prostitution. I wonder how a Pakistani Muslim would react if his daughter or sister was kidnapped and treated in the same manner as a minority Hindu girl? Can such a nation ever be successful if it treats its minorities with total humiliation, disrespect and indignity? And we are not even talking about opportunities for the minorities who come up against a wall when they seek education, professional betterment or mere survival. The New York based Human Rights Watch, Amnesty and other fiercely independent NGOs describe Pakistan as one of the world's worst offenders of human rights of its non-Muslim citizens. The present elite that rules Pakistan -- whether it is the corrupt and mentally bankrupt politicians, military, hate-mongering mullahs or an ex-cricketer-turned-politician -- is leading the country on the path of self destruction. There is no sincere nation-building effort; it's mostly election rhetoric and the race to outdo each other in trying to please religious extremism that is placing Pakistan in the company of rogue nations such as Somalia, North Korea, etc. Power has corrupted the Pakistani ruling class -- and absolute power means absolute corruption, dear friends.
I think what is happening to minorities in Pakstan is wrong. While I think that the President of Pakistan cannot be a non-Muslim, I think all other positions in national and provincial assemblies and the senate should be open to minorities, inclding the position of Prime Minister.
I think that there should not be any quotas on the basis of ethnicity, gender, religion or any other such attribute.
I think that Pakistan started off with a better state of affairs but has over the years gotten considerably worse for minorities and this should stop.
Nobody is gonna listen to you dude.........It is going to fall on deaf ears as usual.......